The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-11-19
ships; perhaps il she had only known him

| ing inns HnllclpdlOFy BTallluue IN ner rae
rs she begged him, with the timidity of
maiden hostess. 10 resume his seat.
But Mr. Renshaw seemed To talk onl,
to make her talk, and | am forced to al
nit that ROscy found this almost II
pleasant. II was not long before he wa
in possession Of her simple history from
the day Of her baby emigration TO Cali
furnia to the transfer Of her childish lif,
to the old ship, and even Of much of thu
romantic fancies sine had woven into hel
existence there, Whatever Interior pur
pose he had in view, he listened as atten
| lively rs if her artless chronicle was filled
with practical information. Once, wher
she had paused for breath, he said grave
| ly, IL must ask you to show me over this
wonderful ship some day that | may see
it with your eyes"
"But think you know it already better
than do" said ROscy with n smile.
Mr.. Renshaw's brow clouded slightly
"Ah," he said, with touch of his former
restraint; "and Why"
"Well, " said Rosey timidly, ~ thought
you went round and touched things in d
familiar way as If you had handled them
before"
The young man raised his eyes to
Rosey's and kept them there long enough
to bring back his gentler expression.
"Then, because found you trying on a
very queer bonnet the first day | saw
YOU" he said mischievously. II ought to
believe you were in the habit Of wearing
one"
In the first flush Of mutual admiration
young people are apt to find laugh quite
as significant as a sigh for an expression
OF sympathetic communion, and this
master stroke Of wit convulsed them both.
In the midst Of it Mr.. Mott entered the
cabin. But the complacency with which he
viewed the evident perfect understanding
Of the pair was destined to suffer some
abatement. Rosey, suddenly conscious that
she was in some way participating in rid
icule Of her father through his unhappy
gift, became embarrassed Mr.. Rem
shaw's restraint returned with the pres
ence Of the old man. In vain, at first,
Abner Mott strove with profound levity to
indicate his arch comprehension Of the
situation, and in vain, later, becoming
alarmed, he endeavofed, with cheerful
gravity, TO indicate his utter oblivious-
ness Of any but business significance In
in their tete-a.tete.
~ oughtn't to hev intruded, Rosey,"
he said, "when you and the gentleman
were talkin' Of contracts, mebbee; but
dent mind me. I'm on the fly, anyhow,
Rosey dear, hevin' to see man round
the corner"
But even the attitude OF withdrawing
did not prevent the exit Of Renshaw to
his apartment and Of Rosey to the galley.
Left alone in the cabin, Abner Mott felt
in the knots and tangles OF his beard for
reason. CHANGING down at his prodig-
ious boots, which, covered with mud and
gravel, strongly emphasized his agricul-
tural origin, and gave him general ap-
pearance of standing on his own broad
acres, he was struck with an idea. "It's
them boots" he whispered to himself,
softly; "they somehow don't seem 'xactly
to trump or follow suit in this yer cabin;
they don't hitch into anythin', but jist
Slosh round loose, and, 80 to speak, play
It alone And them young critters nat
rally feels it and gets out O. the way"
Acting upon this instinct with his usual
preclpitate caution, he at once proceeded
to the nearest second hand shop, and
purchasing pair of enormous carpet
slippers originally the property of
equity sea captain, reappeared with a
strong suggestion of newly upholstering
the cabin. The improvement, however,
was fraught with a portentous circum-
stance Mr.. Motifs footsteps, which
usually announced his approach all over
the ship became stealthy and inaudible.
Meantime Miss Rosey had taken advan-
tage of the absence of her father to visit
her patient. To avoid attracting atten-
her way to the lower deck and raped
softly Mt the door. 1t was instantly
opened by de Ferrieres. He had appar-
emily appreciated the few changes she had
already made in the room, and had him
self cleared away the pallet from which
he had risen to make two low seats
against the wall Two bits of candle
placed on the floor illuminated the beams
above, the dressing gown was artistically
1raped over the solitary chair, and pile
Of cushions formed another seat. With
elaborate courtesy he handed Miss Rosey
TO the chair. He looked pale and weak,
though the gravity of the attack had evil
IDENTIFY passed. Yet he persisted in re-
standing "If l Sit" he ex-
planned with gesture, 81 shall again dis
grace myself by sleeping in mademoiselle's
presence. Yes l shall sleep-I shall
1ream--and wake to find her gomez"
More embarrassed by his recovery than
when he was lying helplessly before her,
she said hesitatingly that she was glad he
was better, and that she hoped he liked
she broth.
at was mama from heaven, mademoi
;elle. See, have taken it all--every pre-
cious drop. What else could l have done
Tor mademoiselle's kindness?"
He showed her the empty bowl. A swift
conviction came upon her that the man
had been suffering from want of food.
The thought restored her self possession
,l,n. 10 ~ al. 4